Spielberg must be thanking the stars that he didn't cast Kevin Spacey in this.
As for the just-released footage, usually Spielberg trailers don't do it for me. They tend to not give a full picture of what to expect. They are marketed for a mainstream crowd. "Lincoln" and "Bridge of Spies" are the best recent examples. I don't mean to sound pessimistic, but I sure hope this movie is better than the paint-by-numbers melodramatic potboiler this trailer makes this out to be. The thumping drum/bell quick cuts make this feel a bit cliche, and I definitely expect more from a soundtrack coming from the great John Williams. My fingers are still crossed, but THOSE WIGS! blech.
Official Synopsis:
"Ben Bradlee and Kay Graham of The Washington Post challenge the federal government for the right to publish classified information in 1971."
“The Post” opens on December 22nd.
As for Spielberg himself, I still maintain that he hit a career peak between 2001 and 2005 and as, more or less, been hit and miss since then with some decent highs ("Lincoln," "War Horse," "Bridge of Spies.")
Here's what I wrote a few months back-
"Now, here's where we might differ Jeff. I actually find Spielberg became a better and more mature filmmaker post-Amistad. The craft and masterful storytelling he produced between 1998 and 2006 ("Saving Private Ryan," "Munich," "Minority Report," "AI: Artificial Intelligence," "Catch Me If You Can" and "War of the Worlds") was incredibly impressive. This was some of the riskiest storytelling he'd ever given us."
"Also, his technique seemed to have changed around that time. It felt more refined and less obvious. These were also some of the darkest, most despairing films he ever made. In other words, given the 30+ years of experience he had behind the camera, he just became a better filmmaker and learned from his mistakes. The way he edited, shot, and let the scenes breathe was just masterful. He also used long shots more often, a sure sign of having more confidence in his craft. His style looked simple, yet it was incredibly complex and effective."
"I can go on and explain how he lost his way again after that, starting with the hiccup that was Indiana Jones 4, but that would have to take up another few paragraphs. Suffice to say, it seems like he's been mostly hit and miss for the last 8 years or so."
